Israel advances plans for 4,600 settler homes despite UN warning

The Higher Planning Council for Judea and Samaria moved plans forward for 4,600 settler homes in Judea and Samaria on Wednesday.

The council will have advanced plans for 7,000 units by the end of the week, making it the highest number of new settler homes advanced in a single week.

The move comes despite warnings from the U.S. and the international community.

The council had significantly reduced the number of homes it approved after U.S. President Joe Biden entered office. This latest advancement returns the number of approvals to the same pace it had under former President Donald Trump.

“After months of a freeze, the advancement of the plans will release a bottleneck and restore development in all areas of Judea and Samaria,” said Yesha CEO Sarah Liebman.

The planning council also pushed forward plans for the recently created settlement of Mevot Yericho in the Jordan Valley.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the correct response to terror attacks is to increase settlements. Netanyahu has continued settlement plans in recent weeks despite international outcry.

Critics argue that the move will only increases tensions, leading to more violence from Palestinians.

Former CIA Director and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo posted a statement on social media countering those claims.

“Israel is not an occupied nation, it is not an apartheid country. It is a democracy. And I will always stand with Israel,” he said.

Pompeo is widely expected to make a presidential campaign announcement in the near future. Many believe his statements defending Israel are an attempt to gain support from the Evangelical community.